Technical Scuba Diving in Santa Hats……Christmas in Costa Rica

Christmas is here! It’s always slightly strange celebrating christmas in a tropical location, whether it’s the BBQ on the beach, turkey by the side of a swimming pool….”Oh dear how hard!!” I know, I know. I am very lucky to be living here but obviously I miss my family very much. Back in England in the cold… I have a family of different sorts here, whether it’s my amazing group of friends, from all walks of life, or my incredible diving family, made up of an eclectic bunch of passionate divers who make up the Oceans and Go Pro family. That is one thing that always sticks with me when I have new students come through the Go Pro program. Everybody always refers to it as “their new family” and in so many ways we are. I try and keep the Go Pro student intake relatively small. That way I can still give personal attention to everyone, and they all have their own place. I don’t know if you had seen the recent “Blue Falcon” video which was our recent divemaster class who are now currently guiding their way in Costa Rica before moving on to the instructor program. At our busiest week of the year we are running around like headless chickens but at the same time having fun….and that’s what it is all about right?In the build up to christmas I have been running a Tec 40 class with some of the students. Immediately after christmas it will be onto Tec 45 and Tec 50. I have definitely seen an increase in the interest in Technical dive classes here and that is awesome fun! Especially when you get to do the diving with santa hats on. The skill you see, is performing a backward roll into the water whilst keeping the santa hat in place. Tricky but possible! Forget the gas shutdowns and liftbag deployment….this is the skill to perform!! We had one santa hat casualty….and the only thing we hope is that some poor child doesn’t find the hat floating one day and think that Santa has drowned. That would definitely be traumatic!!!With the new center we have a some new outside teaching areas which gives us the chance to spread out and enjoy the glorious surrounding areas of the jungle. Yes…tec diving in the jungle. All good fun!!The next PADI IDC is only 4 weeks away and already everyone is getting their DSD and guiding practice in preparation. From Divemaster to Technical to instructor programs….its all happening and looking like it’s going to be a thrilling start to 2014. The water is clear, the Divemasters and instructor are ready to teach…so what are you waiting for ?!